Encounters in the forest: Social and ecological dimensions of lemur hunting, habitat change and biodiversity conservation in south-east Madagascar

To conserve endangered species in anthropogenic landscapes it is crucial to understand how humans and wild animals perceive each other and the nature of their interactions. In this study I use a cross-disciplinary approach to investigate human-wildlife relationships in Tsitongambarika Nouvelle Aire Protégée in south-east Madagascar, with an emphasis on lemur hunting. My fieldwork took place over 12 months during 2017-2020 (July-August, 2017, May-September, 2018, September-October, 2019, and March 2020), split across two study sites. Through my social research in two neighbouring communes I show how their differing biodiversity conservation regimes influence the ways that people living at the forest frontier use forest resources, and characterise their relationships with lemurs and other wild animals. Most wild mammals and birds are considered to be acceptable food, with certain exceptions proscribed by ancestral practices. Contrary to Euro-western narratives, lemurs are not given special importance. Red-collared brown lemurs (Eulemur collaris) are targeted for their fatty meat and southern bamboo lemurs (Hapalemur meridionalis) are treated locally as a ‘pest’ species. In my ecological research, I elucidate the impacts of habitat modifications and hunting on endemic mammals, using cathemeral lemurs and Euplerid carnivores as models. My camera trap survey confirms the presence of four endemic carnivores: broad-striped vontsira (Galidictis fasciata), fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox), ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans) and spotted fanaloka (Fossa fossana), and four non-native mammals. All Euplerid species (except ring-tailed vontsira) are negatively affected by historic habitat degradation. Using distance sampling, I demonstrate lower abundance and group sizes of red-collared brown lemur and southern bamboo lemur under acute hunting conditions. Both species direct anti-predator behaviours towards humans and, in accordance with the ‘landscape of fear’ model, show spatial variations in their anti-predator responses according to the risk of human hunting. My data highlight the cascading effects of conservation measures on humans, lemurs and carnivores and the importance of understanding the capability of each party to cope with living in a shared landscape.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Cardinal, Claire

Contributors dc:contributor

• Donati, Giuseppe
• Hill, Catherine M.

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/jeff-8c52

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:203cc749-161e-469b-aa6b-ba783c168e65:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1